Thomas Jackson Dempsey, Sr. was Judge of the County Court of Sumter County , Florida for four years (1928-1932), having refused to run for re-election again in 1932. He spent the winters at his farm in Webster Florida and the summers with his daughter, Ernestine, in Atlanta, Georgia. He died at Hollard Hospital in Leesburg, Florida on March 28, 1935 after a week's illness. He was survived by Dr. E.F. Dempsey of Toccoa, Georgia; Miss Ernestine Dempsey of Atlanta, Georgia: Mr. T.J. Demsey, Jr. of Athens, Georgia and by nine grandchildren. Funeral rites were conducted from the Jackson Methodist Church and interment was in the Jackson, Georgia cemetery.

Thomas Jackson Dempsey was known as Tom Dempsey. The Dempsey home was located at the end of Dempsey Avenue in Jackson, Georgia. Tom Dempsey was known as a very stubborn person, strict disciplinarian and regarded the Carmichael Family as a great rival. This is evident in the article, "WAKE UP JACKSON!" which was given to Sue Dempsey by Uncle J.R. Carmichael, Jr. The article dated November 14, 1906 was unsigned, but Tom Dempsey was given the credit because he was so opposed to the City water system in Jackson, Georgia.

Hugh Dempsey, told Sue Dempsey, that his grandfather, Tom Dempsey, had an opportunity to be a wealthy person by investing in Coca Cola stock when it was very cheap. Tom Dempsey said, "I do not want to invest in "DOPE"!

1880 United States Census
Marital Birth B-place
Name Rel Status Sex Race Age place Occup Fa Mo
Thomas J. DEMPSY Self M M W 27 GA Turpentine Business GA GA
Narsissus A. DEMPSY Wife M F W 28 GA Keeping House GA GA
Elam F. DEMPSY Son S M W 1 GA GA GA
Emily I. DEMPSY Dau S F W 7M GA GA GA
Thomas W. KILGORE Cousin S M W 23 GA Overseeing GA GA

Source Information:
Census Place District 384, Dodge, Georgia
Family History Library Film 1254143
NA Film Number T9-0143
Page Number 471A